Majlis Al Shura hosts Minster of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources

Muscat: Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Shahhi, Minster of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources gave a brief statement covering five main issues during 20th regular session under the chair of Khalid bin Hilal Al Ma’awali, Chairman of Majlis Al Shura.
On municipal policies and planning, the Minister said that total allocation for the projects approved in the 8th five- year plan was OMR455,930,194.
The original allocation in the 8th five-year plan was OMR96,120,000. The value of the forwarded amounts from the previous five-year plan stood at OMR120,683,001. The added amounts during the years of the plan stood at OMR239,127,193.
The Minister added that the main reasons for the delay in implementing some projects are the recurrent amendments for the same projects and the objections of the residents which may lead to cancellation of the project, changing its design or diverting its pathway, such as road projects.
On public health and services, the Minister highlighted the methods used in the disposal of wastes.
He added that there are 244 landfills at the different wilayats and areas.
As for the sanitary drainage sector, said the number of completed stations in different wilayats by the end of 2015 stands at 31 and work is underway at four new projects.
On the community service and recreational projects, he pointed out to the difficulties faced by the Ministry in implementing municipal projects including the constant population growth, the economic, tourism and trade activities and the growing number of applications for infrastructure and service utilities.
On water resources, the Minister pointed out that value of the projects approved for the plan stands at OMR219,126,008.
The original allocation in the 8th five-year plan was OMR420,000,000. Some items of the plan were amended by OMR9,613,379 including OMR4,200,000 for Aflaj maintenance and OMR1,304,759 for the maintenance of the fill dam.
On human resources development, the Minster highlighted the basic pillars used by the Ministry in improving and developing employees’ qualifications, skills and knowledge.